Disillusion and the Glimmer of Hope for American Suburbs
The familiar image of the American suburbs has not changed much since the 1950s. Benjamin Herold’s Disillusioned both updates and counters that image.
Economics
‘Going For Broke’: Life on the Edge By Those Who Live It
Going for Broke: Living on the Edge in the World’s Richest Country turns to the real experts on economic hardship in America: those who live it.
‘Tokens’ Pays Attention to the Moneyish Side of Things
Tokens is about all those things that are moneyish—monetary-like exchanges that are tracked and programmable, shady and social, hard coded and beyond borders.
Breaking the Habit: Can the US Kick a Century of Drug Dependence?
In Quick Fixes, Benjamin Y. Fong explores America’s stubborn addiction to drugs and looks beyond failed drug wars for a way to break the habit once and for all.
Will Online Participation Be the Future of the Sundance Film Festival?
Watching Sundance Film Festival 2023 from the cost-saving comfort of my couch got me thinking about the sustainability of in-person attendance.
Work or Die? ‘Death Panel’ Podcasters Propose ‘Health Communism’
Death Panel podcasters and Health Communism authors argue that the unemployed, maligned, “burdens” of the state are essential to capitalism’s ill-gotten profit.
The Making of Our “Viral Underclass”
The Viral Underclass digs into capitalism, Big Pharma, “Gay-Inc.” and other factors surrounding Covid-19 and HIV that force a greater toll on the already marginalized.
The Elites Who Are Just So Over Humanity
The depth of anti-humanist sentiment related by Douglas Rushkoff in his latest book, Survival of the Richest, is harrowing and illuminating.
‘A Brief History of Equality’ Is Also Map Leading Us Out of Our Unequal Era
Part historical text, part optimistic political manifesto, A Brief History of Equality reimagines democratic socialism to suit our global economic crisis.
SFIFF 2022: ‘Emily the Criminal’ Director on Rejecting the American Dream
Director John Patton Ford discusses his debut feature Emily the Criminal, a critique of American society borne within the death of the American Dream.
‘Alien’, Aristotle, and the Ruthless Forces That Control Us
Imagine Aristotle sitting in a movie theater in 1979 with his tub of popcorn. If you think he would scoff at Alien‘s outlandish monster, think again.
Yanis Varoufakis Anticipates Mark Zuckerberg’s Metaverse in ‘Another Now’
Disguised as sci-fi, Yanis Varoufaikis’ Another Now contemplates how life post-capitalism might be more free and equal – and how that might be destroyed.